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Cyclospora Cases Reach 548, Including One in California

As of Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been notified of 548 cases of Cyclosporainfection from the following 19 states: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (including New York City), Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The California case was likely acquired out of state, according to CDC. It is not yet clear whether the cases from all of the states are part of the same outbreak. Iowa and Nebraska have linked illnesses in those states to bagged salad served at Olive Gardens and Red Lobsters and produced by Taylor Farms de Mexico. In addition, Wisconsin added four to its count and Georgia deducted one.

Most of the illness onset dates have ranged from mid-June through mid-July. At least 34 have reportedly been hospitalized in five states.

On Aug. 12, FDA released information regarding the traceback investigation of Taylor Farms de Mexico salad mix and the company’s decision to suspend as of Aug. 9 “production and shipment of any salad mix, leafy green, or salad mix components from its operations in Mexico to the United States.”

Additional cases are currently under investigation and will be included in Food Safety News updates as they are confirmed.

Cases in this outbreak are defined as laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infection in a person with onset of illness since June 2013 and no history of travel outside of the U.S. or Canada during the 14 days prior to onset of illness.